Construction underway on new East River Citywide Ferry service homeport

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio visits construction site of Citywide Ferry at Brooklyn Navy Yard

Hunter Roberts Construction Group says construction is underway at the Brooklyn Navy Yard’s Pier C dock. Mayor Bill de Blasio visited the project site on March 8 and announced that Pier C will be the homeport for the new East River Citywide Ferry service, to be accompanied by 200 new jobs.

“For the price of a subway ride, Citywide Ferry service will connect millions of riders to jobs and homes all along New York City’s waterfront. As we prepare to launch this summer, we are focused on the finishing touches, and hiring captains, deckhands, engineers and maintenance workers who will operate these boats,” de Blasio said.

The 56,000- sq. ft. maintenance and storage facility will include berthing space for 25 boats, supplies, parts and utilities. It will provide routine maintenance including exterior and interior cleaning, restocking of food and beverage items, fueling, and basic repairs. The homeport pier is being elevated to comply with the newest FEMA flood standards.

Hunter Roberts demolished the existing 81-foot-by-690-foot timber pier located within Wallabout Bay of the East River and replaced it with a steel pipe pile and concrete deck capable of supporting a 1,000-pound-per-sq. ft. load.

“We were glad to have Mayor Bill de Blasio visit our project site today, learn about our Pier C Citywide Ferry Service Homeport project, and chat with members of the Hunter Roberts staff involved with building the project,” said executive-vice president Paul Anderson, who oversees the company’s work with the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), the city agency in charge of this project.

“The Citywide Ferry Service program will provide New Yorkers with another great option to travel to work, to visit cultural attractions, and to see our city from a new perspective,” said Hunter Roberts president and CEO James C. McKenna. “We are honored to be the construction manager in charge of building the service’s homeport, where these boats will be maintained and through which scores of New Yorkers will be employed.”

The homeport pier will be fully outfitted by early 2018, enabling passenger service to an additional stop on the East River route between South Williamsburg and Brooklyn Bridge Park.